Krukenberg Tumors of Gastric Origin: The Rationale of Surgical Resection and Perioperative Treatments in a Multicenter Western Experience.

BACKGROUND: In case of Krukenberg tumor (KT) of gastric origin it is controversial and debated whether radical surgery in case of synchronous KT or metastasectomy in case of metachronous ones is associated with additional benefits. Role of perioperative treatments is unclear. METHODS: Among 2515 female patients who were diagnosed with gastric cancer between January 1990 and December 2012 from 9 Italian centers, 63 presented simultaneously or developed KT as recurrence. RESULTS: Thirty patients presented with synchronous KT, while 33 developed metachronous ovarian metastases during follow-up. The differences between the two groups were analyzed and compared. The median age of 63 patients was 48.0 years (range 31-71). Resection was possible in 53 patients (20 synchronous and 33 metachronous). Twelve patients in the synchronous group and 15 patients of the metachronous group underwent hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy after resection of KT. All of them underwent adjuvant chemotherapy after KT resection. The median survival for all population was 23 months (95 % confidence interval, 7-39 months). The median survival time in the metachronous group was 36 months, which was significantly longer than that in the synchronous group, 17 months, p < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: KT remains a clinical challenge for gastric cancer therapy. The extent of disease and feasibility of removal of the metastatic lesion must be carefully evaluated prior to surgery to define the patients group who could benefit most from a resection associated with perioperative treatments.

Giant Krukenberg tumor from a perforated gastric cancer that was successfully removed after multidisciplinary therapy: report of a case.

A 46-year-old female underwent total gastrectomy with a combined resection of the pancreatic tail, spleen, and lateral segment of the liver surgery after conservative medical management for a perforated advanced gastric cancer. The histological findings showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and the tumor was Stage IIIC. S-1 and "Kampo-Juzen-taiho-to" were administered as postoperative adjuvant chemo-immunotherapy. A Krukenberg tumor was identified 4 years later. The histological findings strongly suggested the presence of peritoneal dissemination, and S-1-based combined chemotherapies using key drugs such as CDDP, CPT-11, and taxane with the biochemical response modifier "Lentinan" was administered. However, the Krukenberg tumor rapidly increased in size after 4 years and she complained of abdominal distension. Therefore, it was removed with neither difficulties nor apparent recurrent disease, which was thought to be due to the S-1-based combined chemotherapy and the immunological agents are likely to have contributed to her long survival and good quality of life.

Discovery of asymptomatic Krukenberg tumors diagnosed during caesarean section: therapy with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

We report a case of the discovery of asymptomatic Krukenberg tumors in a 37-year-old woman in the 37th week of pregnancy during caesarean section. Subsequent gastroscopy revealed an adenocarcinoma of the stomach as the primary tumor site. The patient was treated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Tumor surgery (Partial parietal peritonectomy and partial gastrectomy) and HIPEC treatment were successful, with no complications found during follow-up. Use of HIPEC seems to be a promising option after radical surgery, including its use in patients with gastric tumors that are in advanced stages, and use in patients who have tumors with poor prognoses, such as Krukenberg tumors.